Last updated: June 8, 2008
Electrical Codes
2008 National Electrical Code, effective July 1, 2008
- Adoption type: State-wide. All local jurisdictions are required to adopt and enforce the code.
Licensing: Electrical Inspectors/Services & Licensing: Contractors
All electrical installations are subject to inspection by the Idaho State Electrical Bureau, a department within the Division of Building Safety, or by city electrical departments where the state does not perform inspection services.
Division of Building Safety
Electrical Bureau
1090 E. Watertower St.
Meridian, ID 83642
Ph (208) 334-2183
Fax (208) 855-2165
Code & License Info (800) 955-3044
http://dbs.idaho.gov/electrical/nec.html
Licensing requirements:
In 2002 the licensing renewal period for Electrical Journeyman, Master Electrician, and Specialty Journeyman license was revised to a three (3) year - (36-month) cycle. Each license shall expire thirty-six (36) calendar months from the date of issue, unless renewed as provided in section 54-1013, Idaho Code. Apprentice and Specialty Trainee’s licenses remained on a yearly cycle, due in the month of July, each year. The Electrical Contractor licensing renewal period has always been the month of July, annually, since 1961.
| Apprentice Electrician |
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| Requirements: |
A person wishing to become an apprentice electrician shall register with the Division of Building Safety prior to going to work. Said person shall carry a current registration certificate on his person at all times and shall present it upon request to personnel of the Division of Building Safety for examination. In order to qualify to take the journeyman electrician examination an apprentice electrician shall be required to work four (4) years, defined as a minimum of eight thousand (8000) hours of work experience, under the constant on-the-job supervision of a journeyman electrician. That work shall include three (3) categories: (5-3-03): residential, commercial, and industrial installations.
Experience shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the work time in any one (1) category. The requirements of Subsection 012.01.b shall not apply to a registered apprentice enrolled in an apprenticeship program accredited by the Electrical Bureau. (5-3-03)
An apprentice who has completed the required number of instructional hours and has not passed the journeyman's examination within two (2) years of completion of the required instructional training hours shall provide proof of continuation training in order to re-register as an apprentice. For the purposes of Section 012, continuation training is defined as registration in an approved fourth year apprenticeship class. (7-1-04) T
An apprentice who has not advanced in apprenticeship training for a period of two (2) years shall provide proof of continuation training in order to re-register as an apprentice. For the purposes of Section 012, continuation training is registration in an approved year of apprenticeship class for which the apprentice is eligible or a repeat of the most recent apprenticeship class attended. (7-1-04) T |
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| Supervision: |
It shall be the responsibility of the employing electrical contractor to ensure that the apprentice performs electrical work only under the constant on-the-job supervision of a journeyman electrician. Any contractor who employs more than two (2) apprentice electricians for each licensed journeyman electrician employed is presumed to be in violation of the direct supervision requirements of Section 54-1010, Idaho Code, and of the constant on-the-job supervision requirement of Section 54-1003A, Idaho Code. This presumption may be rebutted by a showing by the contractor that special circumstances exist which are peculiar to the work done by that contractor which allows for effective supervision by each journeyman electrician of more than two (2) apprentice electricians. Prior to employing more than two (2) apprentice electricians for each journeyman electrician, a contractor must obtain permission from the Electrical Bureau to do so. Failure to comply with this requirement will be grounds for suspension or revocation of the electrical contractor's license. |
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| Renewal: |
Yearly, due each July; Renewal fee: $100
Upon renewal, each apprentice shall furnish proof of completion of a minimum of one-hundred-forty-four (144) hours of an organized sequence of instruction in technical subjects related to the electrical trade as approved by the Idaho State Electrical Board for Professional and Technical Education and work experience performed during the previous year with notarized letters from each employer and a certificate of achievement from the vocational institution attended. This requirement shall continue each year until the minimum requirements of Chapter 10, Title 54, Idaho Code, have been fulfilled. |
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| Journeyman Electrician |
| A person holding an active Idaho journeyman electrician license may make installations of electrical wiring and equipment as an employee of an active licensed Idaho electrical contractor. Anyone attempting to act as an electrical contractor in the state of Idaho must first obtain an Idaho electrical contractor's license. |
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| Requirements: |
In order to be approved for the Idaho State Journeyman Electrician exam you must submit notarized documentation of four (4) years (a minimum of 8,000 hrs) of work experience as an apprentice electrician making electrical installations under the constant supervision of a qualified journeyman electrician and four (4) years (a minimum of 576 hrs) of approved electrical apprenticeship class room instruction.
An applicant for testing must submit an application to the Electrical Bureau. Upon application approval, the Electrical Bureau will issue an examination registration form to the applicant, which must be completed by the applicant and submitted to the testing service.
An apprentice who has completed the required number of instructional hours and has not passed the journeyman's examination within two (2) years of completion of the required instructional training hours shall provide proof of continuation training in order to re-register as an apprentice. For the purposes of Section 012, continuation training is defined as registration in an approved fourth year apprenticeship class. (7-1-04) T An apprentice who has not advanced in apprenticeship training for a period of two (2) years shall provide proof of continuation training in order to re-register as an apprentice. For the purposes of Section 012, continuation training is registration in an approved year of apprenticeship class for which the apprentice is eligible or a repeat of the most recent apprenticeship class attended. (7-1-04) T |
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| Fees: |
Administrative: $15
License: $55 |
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| Renewal: |
Tri annually from the date of issue |
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| Master Electrician |
| Requirements: |
Must have worked as a licensed journeyman electrician for a period of not less than four (4) years. The applicant must submit an application form to the Electrical Bureau. Upon approval of the application, the Electrical Bureau will issue an examination registration form to the applicant, which must then be completed by the applicant and mailed to the testing service. Applicants will be required to obtain a score of seventy-five percent (75%) or above on the exam before a master electrician license will be issued. |
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| Fees: |
Administrative: $15
License: $65 |
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| Renewal: |
Tri annually from the date of issue |
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| Electrical Contractor |
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| Requirements: |
Either be or employ a Idaho licensed journeyman who has held a license for two years and qualifies as a supervising journeyman under IDAPA 07.01.03015. A designated full time, supervisory employee must be identified on the application to take the contractor exam and successfully pass the examination for the corporation, company, etc. in accordance with the provisions in IDAPA 07.01.03015.
Submit properly completed, signed and notarized application with the $15 administrative fee. Mail the completed application form and fee to the Electrical Bureau at the address above. Upon application approval, the Electrical Bureau will issue an examination registration form to the applicant.
Note: A testing service is under contract with the Bureau to administer the examination and a testing fee is required. To purchase the Idaho Contractors Reference Manual, contact International Code Council at 1-888-422-7233.
Complete the contractor examination registration form and submit to the testing service with the appropriate fee. Please Note: If the applicant does not take the examination within sixty (60) days of Bureau approval, he/she must reapply to the Electrical Bureau and resubmit the $15 administrative fee.
Provide proof of $300,000 liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance or statement of exemption for worker’s compensation (if applicable). Certificates of insurance may be attached to this application |
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| Fees: |
License fee: $15
Revival fee: $65 |
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| Renewal: |
Annually on the month of July; Renewal fee: $100 |
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| Specialty Electrician Trainee |
| Idaho Code 54-1003A(8) defines a specialty electrician trainee as any person who, for the purpose of learning the trade of a specialty electrician, engages in the installation of electrical wiring, equipment or apparatus while under the constant on-the job supervision of a qualified specialty electrician. |
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| Requirements: |
Federal law requires minimum eligible starting age to be not less than 16 years. An applicant for a specialty journeyman electrician license must have at least two (2) years experience with the type of installation for which the license is being applied for, in compliance with the requirements of the state in which the experience was received, or as a specialty electrical trainee making electrical installations in accordance with the requirements as stated herein.
A specialty electrical trainee shall be required to work two (2) years, defined as a minimum of four thousand (4,000) hours of work experience, under the constant on-the-job supervision of a specialty electrician of the same specialty category to qualify for testing as a specialty journeyman electrician. A person wishing to become a specialty electrical trainee shall register with the Division of Building Safety prior to going to work. Said person shall carry a current registration certificate on his person at all times and shall present it upon request to personnel of the Division of Building Safety for examination. Each specialty trainee shall re-register prior to each July 1, furnishing proof of work experience performed during the previous year in the form of notarized letters from each employer. This requirement shall continue each year until the minimum requirements of Chapter 10, Title 54, Idaho Code, have been fulfilled. Any specialty trainee failing to re-register by August 1 of each year, shall pay an additional fee of ten dollars ($10) to receive his registration certificate. Time shall not be credited while the trainee is inactive or not registered.
NOTE: It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify and substantiate all information supplied and to furnish all verifications of employment. Signed, notarized letters of verification of employment from each employer prior to July 2000 or from experience out of the state of Idaho must be attached to this application before any credit for hours of experience can be given (an employer's verification form is attached). For electrical experience gained in the military to be considered, you must include a copy of your DD-214 with this application.
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| Renewal: |
Annually on the month of July |
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| Specialty Electrical License |
| Requirements: |
In order to be approved for the Idaho State Specialty Electrician examination, you must submit documentation in the form of notarized statements from employers, giving dates of employment and type of work performed. You must have at least two (2) years (a minimum of 4000 hours) of work experience within the scope of the specialty, and that experience must be in compliance with the rules of the state in which the experience was obtained. An applicant for testing must submit an application form to the Electrical Bureau. Upon approval of the application, the Electrical Bureau will issue an examination registration form to the applicant, which must then be completed by the applicant and submitted to the testing service. |
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| Fees: |
Administrative fee: $15
License fee: $55 |
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| Specialty Electrical Contractor |
| Requirements: |
Either be or employ an Idaho licensed specialty electrician who has held a license for two years and qualifies as a supervising specialty electrician under IDAPA 07.01.04017. A designated full time, supervisory employee must be identified on the application to take the contractor exam and successfully pass the examination for the corporation, company, etc. in accordance with the provisions in IDAPA 07.01.03015. Complete the contractor examination registration form and submit to the testing service with the proper fee. Please Note: If the applicant does not take the examination when scheduled, he/she must reapply to the Electrical Bureau and resubmit the $15 administrative fee.
Successfully pass the contractors examination. (A passing score of 70% is required)
Note: A testing service is under contract with the Bureau to administer the examination and a testing fee is required.
Provide proof of $300,000 liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance or statement of exemption for worker’s compensation (if applicable). Certificates of insurance may be attached to this application |
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| Fees: |
Administrative fee: $15
License fee: $125 |
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| Renewal: |
Annually on the month of July; Renewal fee: $100 |
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CE Requirements
Journeymen and Master Electricians must complete at least twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education instruction in every three (3) year period between updates of the National Electrical Code. The twenty-four hours of instruction will consist of a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of code update covering changes included in the latest edition of the National Electrical Code. The Electrical Board will establish criteria for approval of instruction and instructors, and courses and instructors will be approved by the Bureau. Proof of completion of these continuing education requirements must be submitted to the Bureau prior to or with the application for license renewal by any such licensee in order to renew a journeyman or master electrician license for the code change year.
Reciprocates
Form available online at http://dbs.idaho.gov/electrical/licenses.html.
Journeyman Electrician: Idaho has journeyman electrician licensing reciprocity with the states of Oregon and Montana. If you tested for your journeyman electrician license in either of the above states, you may be eligible for licensing reciprocity. Please include a copy of your current Oregon or Montana journeyman license with this completed application.
An applicant with out-of-state experience, who has not completed the education requirement, may alternatively submit twice the amount of experience (eight years defined as 16,000 hrs). The work experience shall include three (3) categories, residential, commercial, and industrial. Experience shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the work time in any one category. If the applicant does not meet the 16,000 hour requirement, he or she may register as an apprentice electrician, and may be approved for placement testing for the required classroom instruction based on their out-of-state work experience.
Master Electrician: Idaho has master electrician licensing reciprocity with the state of Oregon. If you tested for your general supervisor electrician’s license in the state of Oregon, send a copy of that current license with the completed application.
Specialty Electrical License: Idaho has entered into an agreement with the state of Washington to mutually recognize the specialty electrician qualifications in the categories of Limited Energy and Sign. This agreement allows specialty electricians that have tested for a Washington specialty license and currently hold a valid Washington license to obtain a specialty Idaho license in the same category without additional examination for that license.
State Websites
Here is a list of governmental websites to find the latest licensing and code information.
Submit Alteration
Use the Alteration form to request changes, updates, and other corrections to this page. You can also use this form if you wish to add a new jurisdiction. Requests must include source of information so that IAEI can verify it. You can also contact IAEI directly at directCONNECT@iaei.org.
 Submit Alteration Form
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